Using goose floaters to help kill ducks is not a new idea. For years hunters have placed there token four confidence goose floaters off to the side of their main duck decoy spread which often consists of 100 or more duck decoys. Always trying to be different in my goal to be a more successful hunter, I switched my spread to more goose decoys than duck decoys, and to my pleasant surprise I killed more ducks and lots more geese.
The spread we have been running consists of 60 goose floaters and 18 super magnum mallards. Why is this spread effective? Because it is highly visible and simulates a huge raft of geese. A common sight rarely scene outside a refuge.
The large black body of the Canada goose decoy provides an exceptional contrast to the water and is very visible from high altitudes. This extra visibility makes your decoys spread the first one a duck can see giving you the first chance of trying to call them in.
The refuge system ducks and geese relate to provide a common place where large numbers of ducks and geese gather. This common sight on the refuge is rarely seen outside the refuge lines. By replicating this, you are simulating a sight that is perceived to be safe since it is rarely scene in an area that is not a safe zone. Sure their are large spreads of duck decoys, but when was the last time you saw a goose decoy spread consisting of 50 or more goose decoys?
The only drawback to this setup is that it requires a large boat to haul all the goose floaters. Our current rig is a 17×48 johnboat and it is pretty tight inside when loaded, but it gets the job done. When running a spread any larger my hunting party and I take another boat so we are not loaded to heavy and being unsafe. We do this because we always follow the motto “live to hunt another day”.
Next year leave some duck decoys behind and start running a larger goose spread. The refuge like decoy spread with its high visibility will make you a more successful duck and goose hunter.
For more goose and duck hunting tips please read other articles located at duck and goose hunting tips.